DANNY BERGARAwho died on 25 July 2007 aged 64 was a Uruguayan born football manager who enjoyed his biggest success at Stockport County.With the team wallowing in the fourth division of the old Football League, Mr Bergara helped transform Stockport’s fortunes in the early 1990s guiding them to their first promotion in 24 years as well as to Wembley on four occasions.Arriving in England in 1973 he became one of the first foreign managers to grace English football, paving the way for the likes of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.A hero in Stockport, he also managed a number of other lower league teams including Rotherham and Doncaster, as well as working with the English national side coaching players at both U18 and U20 level.Daniel Alberto Bergara was born on 24 July 1942 in Montevideo, Uruguay. As a youngster he displayed a natural love and talent for football. He made his first team debut for Racing Club in the Uruguayan first division when he was 16.Beginning to impress scouts and supporters with his eye for goal he was called up to play for his country at U18 level before making a big move to Real Mallorca in 1962.After a short, but successful spell at Mallorca where he won the second division championship he signed for Sevilla in 1967 and later Tenerife ending his playing career in 1972.He moved to England in 1973 after falling in love with an English travel guide and found work as a reserve team coach at Luton Town. Hoping to one day break into first team management he was a coach at Sheffield United before taking over as manager of fourth division Rochdale in 1988.His first and only season at Rochdale helped him secure the management position at Stockport in 1989 where for the next six years he brought success and happiness to its supporters.An exceptional ability to get the best out his players and instil a winning mentality at the club saw the side promoted for the first time in 24 years at the end of the 1990/1 season.On the brink of becoming a club legend, he guided Stockport to four Wembley appearances losing out in the third division play off finals in 92 and 94 as well as in the Autoglass trophy on two occasions.Supporters also grew accustomed to his quirky pre match programme notes before every home game, including classic comments such as: “Barnet will be the Christmas pudding to be complimented by a trip to the capital to meet the cream - Brentford.”His association with the club ended in 1995 after being sacked by Chairman Brian Elwood, although he has since become a member of Stockport County’s hall of fame.On Leaving Stockport he failed to build upon his success, eventually ending his league management career at Doncaster in 1997.In a newspaper interview in 2006 he admitted that he missed being a manager and wished someone had given him a chance to once again prove his worth.Mr Bergara passed away following a short illness and on 28 July 2007 fans, players and staff of Stockport gathered at Edgeley Park football ground for ‘Danny Bergara Day’ a small celebration commemorating the life of a Stockport legend.
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